Safety latch mechanism



Aug. 8, 1950 A.1. WAGNER SAFETY LATCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 30, 1946 INVENTOR w.. ,im Ww. 1T MY Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNI TEDl STATES CE SAFETY LATCH MECHANISM John Wagner, Brooklyn, N. YL

Application-October 30, 1946,- Serial No. '2-06,654I

4' IClaims. l This invention relates to an improved` safety latch mechanism particularly designed to secure the rear doors of automobiles against inadvertent opening.

Motor vehicles doors are customarily provided with latch mechanisms operated by handles posi.- tioned` within andr without the vehicle body for holding the door in closed position, and in addition the exterior of the door is provided with av door lock which is accessible by a key from the door exterior and which may be operated by a button from the door interior. The. locked. door, however, lcan be unlocked and unlatehed by aperson within thev vehicle. body by simply manipulating the interior door handle, or the button.

Further, the rear door locking mechanism commonly used on four door sedans is constructed so that it. must be manually operated after the rear door has been closed to lock the door against exterior opening. If the operator of the vehicle forgets or neglects to operate the locking mechanism of the closed rear door, the rear door could be opened from the outside, leaving valuables within the automobile in danger of being stolen.

Serious accidents and injuries have been caused to children as well as adults as a result of being thrown out of a travelling vehicle through aninadvertently openedv door which has become unlatched and unlocked by accidental or prankish manipulation of the interior handle of the car door.

An object of this invention is to provide. a locking device for the rear doors of automobiles operably distinct from the rear door handles thereof,

and which is so placed and operated that, while it may easily be operated by the driver of the automobile, there is little or nol danger that children or other rear seat occupants can open, or will unwittingly open, the rear door thereofr Without the knowledge and assistance of the driver of' the automobile.

Another object of this invention is to provide an an. automatic locking device for the rear doors of automobiles which isy simple in construction and foolproof in operation, by means of which the rear doors of automobiles are automatically locked when shut, and cannot be opened until the locking mechanism has been manually released by a person within the automobile.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

The improved safety latch mechanism constructed in accordance with4 this invention generally comprises a tubular casing designed to snugly fit within a horizontally extending hole drilled in the center post of a four-door automobile body, at an elevation slightly above the shoulder heighth of,` an average grown occupant 2Y of the front seat. A plunger is mounted toA slide Within the tubular casing; the, plunger having a locking head'. A coil spring contained within the casing operates td normally retain the locking. head of the plunger extendedy and projecting from the locking end: of the casing. The adjacent vertical edge of the. rearfdoor is provided' with a: latch plate and a hole or cavity therein into which the extended locking head may project in a inanner to lock the rear door to` the center post.

This1 improved latch mechanism substantially y eliminates the possibility of accidental opening. of.

the rear door by rear seat occupants, since the rear seat occupant wmild have to simnltaneouslyI manipulate the dor handle andI this safety latch mechanism spaced a. considerable distance from the door handle, which operation would require substantial coordination 'and the use of both hands. It will be.' urther appreciated that this imprnved safety latch'. mechanism assures that the rear doors will: automatically lock when swung into clcsed' position, sa that. the rear door can thereafter be opened" only by first obtaining.

access to the car' interior through one of the front doers.

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be' particularly pcinted. ont in the claims al'iperided hereto', the invention itself, and the manner in which it may be carried ont, may be better: understood by referring to 'oney following." description taken in ccnneeticn with the accompanying drawings forming aiv Dart. hereof in which Fig. 1 isl an interior view of' an automobile body. snowing the imprcvedlatcning mechanism in place on the post between the front and rear doors;

Fig. 2 is a icngitudina cross-sectional. viewo'f the improved' iatchingmechanism in place on the car door post, as it would appear when viewedalc'ng the line 2-2 of; Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view' of the improved' Iatc'hing mechanism illustrati-ng' one exempl'ication thereof; v K

Fig. 4; is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the' improved latching; mechanism as it would appear when viewedalong the line' {1 -61 of Fig. 3l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the improved latching mechanism as it would appear when viewed along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the head end of the latching mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspectiveview of the improved latching mechanism illustrating an alternative exemplification thereof, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional ,View of the improved locking device shown in Fig. 'I as it would appear when assembled into the car door post.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specication.

As illustrated in Figs. ,3,.4 and 5, this new and improved latching mechanism comprises a tubular casing member I having a tubular body wall II provided with diametrically opposed slots I2 and I2 in the tubular side wall thereof. The head end of the tubular vcasing is provided with an interior screw thread I3, and the rear end thereof is provided with an inturned lip I4 which denes a round hole axially centered with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the tubular casing member.

The casing member I Il'contains and houses a plunger or draw bolt I5 having a body .section I6 whose diameter is such as to snugly slide within the hole dened by the inturned lip I4 of the casing member I0. The draw bolt I5 is provided with a locking head I'I presenting a locking face I8 and a cam face I 9. A steel stop pin 20 extends througha tted hole in the body section I6 of the draw bolt I5, the projecting ends 20' of the pin extending into the adjacent slots I2 and I2 in the casing member I0. Thus they draw bolt I5 may be reciprocated longitudinally in the casing member I0 a distance corresponding to the longitudinal length of the slots I2 and I2', the draw bolt 'being also held against rotation by the pin 20 and slots I2 and I2.

A securing member 2|, which is detachably secured to the tubular casing member I0, provides means forsecuring the casing member I0 and its associated draw bolt I5 within the door post Aof the car.` The securing member 2I comprises a plate section 22 `having a cylindrical boss 23 presenting a threaded exterior which threads into the screw threads I3 of casing member I 0 to thereby attach the securing member 2I to the casing member I0. The cylindrical boss portion 23 is provided with an axial bore within which the body section I6 as Well as the locking head section I'I of the draw bolt I5 may snugly reciprocate. Thus the draw bolt I5 is retained and Supported within the casing member III by the lip I3'and the cylindrical boss 23.

The locking head I'I of the latch bolt I5 is resiliently retained in a position to project from the outer face of the securing member 2| by means of a coil expansion spring 25 contained within the casing member I0 and surrounding the body section I6 of the draw bolt I5.y One end of the coil spring 25 seats against the inturned lip I4 of the casing member I0 and the other end of the coil spring seats against the projecting ends 20 of the stop pin 20 xed to the draw bolt I5. The locking head II is thus resiliently retained in locking position by the coil spring 25, but can be drawn into the casing member III'against the .action of the coil spring 25 by applying a pulling force to the rear end of the draw bolt.- f

The rear end of the draw bolt I5 is provided with a lugblock 26 adapted t0 be .attached t0 4 the rear face 24 of the draw bolt. The lug block 26 is provided withr a threaded projection 21 adapted to -be screwed into the rear face 24 of the draw bolt I5. The threaded portion 2'I of the lug block 25 is firmly held against movement by a set screw 28 threaded into the body of the draw bolt I5, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. The latch bolt I5 is manipulated by a stem member 30 which is preferably threaded so that it may be screwed into a threaded hole in the lug block 26, the bolt manipulating stem 3D extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the draw bolt I5. The outer end of the stem 30 is provided with a suitable button 3I which can be gripped in the fingers to manipulate the latch bolt I5.

The improved latching mechanism as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive is so designed to permit economical, high speed assembly thereof. In assembling this latching unit, the coil spring 25 is rst positioned within the tubular casing member II), and then the boss section 23 of the securing member 2I is threaded on to the end of the casing member I0. The latch bolt I5, with the stop pin 26 and the manipulating stem 30 removed therefrom, is then telescoped into the casing member IU so as to freely reciprocate therein. The stop pin 20 can be readily inserted through the casing slot I2, through the receiving hole in the draw bolt I5, and into the opposite casing slot I2', t'he spring 25 being compressed between the stop pin 20 and the lip I4. The stop pin 20 may have a snug and tight fit within the bored hole provided therefor in the latch bolt I5 so as to be rmly retained in position with the ends thereof extending into the casing slots I?. and I 2. If desired, however, the stop pin 2!) may be further held in position by a set screw 33 threaded into the body section I6 of the latch 'bolt I5, a hole 34 being provided in the tubular wall II of the casing member I5 to permit insertion and manipulation of the set screw into its threaded hole in the latch bolt I5.

In applying the latching mechanism to the door post A of the car, a suitable hole a is drilled horizontally into the post for a suitable distance, suflicient to receive and contain the casing member I D as well as the draw bolt I5 when in its drawn, unlocked position. The cylindrical hole a, provided in the door post should be such as to substantially conform to the diameter of the casing member I0, and should be located near the upper end of the post A, but within convenient reaching distance of the driver occupant of the car. The casing member IU is secured and held in position by suitable screws 35 which extend through the plate section 22 of the securing member 2| and into the door post. A slot b is cut into the interior face of the door post A, to pro.- vide a channel leading into the cylindrical hole a cut into the door post. The width of the slot b need not substantially exceed the diameter of the manipulating stem 30, and may have a length. which is not substantially in excess of the longitudinal length of the slots I2 and I2 in the casing member I0.

To give the latching installation a nished appearance, a slotted chang plate 40 may be secured over the slot b as by screws 4I the chafing plate 40 having a conformed slot 42 through which the manipulating stem 30 may extend. When the casing member I0 and its associated draw bolt I5 and securing member 2I have all been nally assembled within or to the door post, the attaching end of the manipulating stem 3Il acre, ce?

52 may be inserted through the slot 2" of the chafing plate lill, into the slot o" the' door' post, and thence threadedv into thelug block 2e in a manner to firmly secure the manipulating stern to the lug block; It will be noted that the man-iptriating stern S may bei adjusted so that' its finger' gril? button .tl is positioned closely adjacent the in terior face of the door oost, thereby providing' a t'-ariattractive installation which enhances' ather than detracts from the finished appease4 ance of the body interior". It will be noted that the" lug block` 26 has a' threaded stud connection with the end oif the draw bolt 51, which longitudinal adjustment of the lug block Zd and aligning adjustment of the threaded opening in the lug block whereby the position of the thread; ed opening in the lug. block may be adjusted to conveniently accommodate and receive threaded. end portion of the manipulating stem ab.

When the latching: mechanism above' described has' been fully installed, a latch plate en" is attached to the adjacent edge of the'rear' car door in; a position to cooperate with the locking head l1' of the locking mechanism. The fattening plate 5e may be secured to the rear door B as bysuitable' screws el, and is provided with a suitable hole or cavityv 52 into which the projecting' end' of the locking head f1 extend. The hole or cavity 52- is so shaped and formed' that when the rear door is swung' into closed position, the cani face le of the locking head Il will cam over the latch plate 5o until the door is fully closed, whereupon the latch-ing. head i?? will automatically spring into the locking cavity e2 of tlie' locking :plate under the impelli'n'g force of the ooit spring 25.

An alternative exemplificatori of this improved latching mechanism is illustrated in Figs'. "7' and 8. In this exemplification., the tubular casir'ig' member Il! comprises a tubular body section 43 of suicient length to extend entirely through the door post A of the car,- whereasin the eXei-nplication shown in Figs. 3` to 6` inclusive the tubular body il of the casing member l' pro'- j-ectsonly part way into the door post. The securingv member il of the exemplii'cation' shown in Figs. 8 and 9, has a plate section lili which may be generally circular in outline as compared with the elliptical shaped plate section g2' ofthe unit shownin Figi.l 3*. The body section 13 of the casing. member shown in Figa '7 and 8I is provided with an external thread l5 at the rear end thereof1 to which a ring nut li@ may be seoured The ring nut 455 may have associated. therewith a closure cap section y4l toi closeA the rear end of the body section e3.

The body section IB of the draw bolt l5 of the unit shown inr Figs. '7Y and 8 is' supported within the tubular body section 43 by asleeve ring d8 which may be fixed to the body section 43 as by a set screw t9. The body section 6 of the draw bolt l5 is' additionally supported by' the cylindrical boss section 23 of the supporting member 2l so that the draw bolt is free to reeipf'eoate within the conforming bores oi the sleeve ring lili and the cylindrical boss section 23. The' locking head il is normally retained in proieted position by the coi-1 spring 25011@ end of which seats against the ring- Sleeve E8, the 'other edl seating against the projecting` ends of the sto-p pin 2li. The threaded manipulating stem 30 is detac'hably secured to the lug' block 26. a c0n-i formed slot 39 being provided in the tubular' body section 43 through which the manipulating stem extends.

To assembletrie rationing mechanism shown in Figs: 'l and 8, the sleeve ring 48 is inserted into and properly positioned Within the body section @Si of the casing member W1, and heid place by set screw 49. The coil spring 2e is telescoped into the cnd of' the .body section 4o and. seated dport the sleeve ring 68". The securing member 2f: is then attached tothe casing nie-ni-V b'er' te by' threading' the boss section ze thereof into the threaded end or* the body section 4o. The' body section |56 of' the draw bolt f5 isi then inserted' into the body section so as to reciprocate in the ring sleeve le and boss sec-tion 2:5. The stop pin- 2e is their inserted into the slot t2 of the body sectiorr $3 of the casina mernber'- lo and i the bodyv section is of the casing' rnernber.

To install the fetching mechanism exemplie fled in Figs. "7 and e in the door post A of a four-door automobile, a horizontally extending' noie a" is drilled completely through the door post A. A slot which leads into the horizo'he tally attending hol-'e or passage c', is out through the interior face of the door post. A receiving recess c, shaped to snugly receive the overhanging flange portion of the plate section Lili, may be out into the edge face of the door post. A similar' receiving recess d' designed to receive the overhanging portions of the securing ring nut EG", may also be out in the opposite verticalE edge of the door post.

With the. ring nut 46 removed, the tubular section 43 of the casing member I is' inserted into the drilled hole passage a', and the plate section M of the securing member 2t secured. to the door post as byV one: orY more sr'naii screws 55'. The ring' nut 4e is then threaded' onto the rear end of.' the body section 43' of the casing member and suitably tightened to hold the casing member IU rnlly in place. The slotted ehang plate is attached to the interior face of the` door post directly over the slot b', and the manipulatina stem. 36 their inserted through the slot b and threadedv and attached to the lug block 26 of the draw boltV [5.- t will. also be` noted that the lug block 2'6 associated with the construction shownin Figsr 7" and 8 may be adjusted. as required to position the threaded open-ing in the lug blockl as conditions require to conveniently accommodate and recel-Ve the threaded end portion'` of the manipulating stem 35).

As the final'. assembly operation,` the latch plate is attached to the adjacent edge of the rear door Bc care being taken so that the latch-ing holeor socket 521sv properly located to receive the locking head H of the draw bolt.v The looke ing plate 50 may present atapered. face 53 so that the cam face le of the looking head will smoothly slide thereover.-

Itwill be observed thatI when this improved latoliing mechanism has been installed in the center postY of the ear in the manner above den` scribed, the' rear door B` f the ear' cari only be from. closed position by grasping the manipillatmg button :il1 and puliing.' the same along the slot- 42 in the clearing plate #il with suicient force so as to overcome the action of the coil spring and to thereby withdrawthe locking head I1 from the locking cavity 52 in the lock plate 50. Upon release of the manipulating button 3|, the coil spring 25 will drive the locking head I1 into its normally extended position, so that when the rear door is swung into closed position, the door will be locked in closed position and releasable only by manipulating the release button 3| as indicated. Thus when the rear door is closed, it is automatically locked and entry into the car interior through this door is prevented until access to the interior is had so as to manipulate the latch button 3|.

Nor can the rear seat occupant of the car carelessly or inadvertently open the rear door by manipulating the door handle C of the rear door B. Opening of the rear door B requires coordinated and simultaneous manipulation of the interior car door handle C as well as the latching button 3| of the latching mechanism. This proved latching mechanism thus provides a safety device whereby children or adult occupants of the rear seat cannot unintentionally, inadvertently or playfully open the rear door of the car. Thus the danger of theft of valuables left in the automobile is minimized and the danger of injury to children riding in the rear seat is substantially obviated.

This improved locking device is simple and sturdy in construction, inexpensive-to manufacture, and can be readily and quickly installed in the center post of substantially any four-door car with a minimum of labor.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A latching mechanism designed for installation within the center post of a four door automobile at approximately the shoulder level of the seated driver, said mechanism including in combination, a tubular casing, a draw bolt having a latching head designed to reciprocate in said casing, an adjustable mounting member for one end of said casing having an attaching plate section and a boss section threaded into one end of said tubular casing, said boss section having an axial bore designed to slidably receive the body of said draw bolt and snugly guide the draw bolt in its reciprocating movement, adjustable mounting means for the other end of said casing comprising a ring nut having a threaded connection therewith, and a manipulating stem extending laterally from said draw bolt.

2. A latching mechanism designed for installation within the center post of a four door automobile, said mechanism including in combination, a tubular casing, a draw bolt having a latching head designed to reciprocate in said casing, a mounting member for one end of said casing having an attaching plate section and a boss section threaded into one end of said tubular casing, said boss section having an axial bore designed to slidably receive and guide the draw bolt adjacent the latching head thereof, said casing having an internal shoulder portion presenting an axial bore spaced from said boss Section designed to slidably receive and guide the draw bolt adjacent the other end thereof, an adjustable ring nut having a threaded connection with the other end of said tubular casing for supporting the same in mounted position, and a stem member secured to and projecting laterally from said draw bolt for manipulating the draw bolt.

3. A latching mechanism designed for installation within the center post of a four door automobile, said mechanism including in combination, a tubular casing, a draw bolt having a latching head designed to reciprocate in said casing, a mounting member for said casing having an attaching plate section and a boss section threaded into said tubular casing, said boss section having an axial bore designed to slidably receive and guide said draw bolt adjacent the latching head thereof, said casing having an internal shoulder portion presenting an axial bore spaced from said boss section designed to slidably receive and guide the draw bolt adjacent the rear end thereof, an abutment pin xed to said draw bolt presenting end portions projecting into guide slots extendn ing longitudinally through the tubular body wall of said casing member for guiding the axial movement of said draw bolt in said casing, a coil spring embracing a body section of said draw bolt having one end thereof seating against said shoulder portion and the other end thereof seating against the ends of said abutment pin, a stem member secured to and projecting laterally from said draw bolt for manipulating said draw bolt.

4 A latching mechanism designed for installation within the center post of a four door automobile, said mechanism including in combination, a tubular casing, a draw bolt having a latching head designed to reciprocate in said casing, a mounting member for said casing having an attaching plate section and a boss section threaded into one end of said tubular casing, said boss section having an axial bore designed to slidably receive and guide the draw bolt adjacent the latching head thereof, said casing having an internal shoulder portion presenting an axial bore spaced from said boss section designed to slidably receive and guide the draw bolt adjacent the rear end thereof, an abutment pin fixed to said draw bolt presenting end portions projecting into guide slots extending longitudinally through the tubular body wall of said casing for guiding the axial movement of said draw bolt in said casing, a coil spring embracing a body section of said draw bolt having one end thereof seating against said shoulder portion and the other end thereof seating against the ends of said abutment pin, an -adjustable ring nut having a threaded connection with the other end of said tubular casing for supporting and securing the same in mounted position, and a stem member secured to and projecting laterally from said draw bolt for manipulating the draw bolt.

JOHN WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 127,027 Clark Mar. 21, 1872 630,594 Conant Aug. 8, 1899 1,517,817 Aufderheide Dec. 2, 1924 1,578,598 Gidney Mar. 30, 1926 1,624,819 Wolford Apr. 12, 1927 2,221,529 Schoenheit NOV. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 280,466 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1927 

